It's time to get ready for spring and summer at our local open space gem, the Rockridge Temescal Greenbelt and FROG Park. Come out for a community work day on Earth Day, Saturday, April 23, 9 a.m. - noon, (8:45 sign-in), sponsored by FROG and the DMV Neighbors Association (DNA).

Working for a safe Rockridge. Left to right: Sgt.Tim Martin, Sgt. Sean Hall, Community Resource Officer (CRO) Anthony Hutzol and Officer Paul Phillips all showed up for a "Coffee with the Cops" session held March 23 at the Rockridge Library. Look for Hall and Phillips as they patrol through Rockridge on OPD bike patrols. They will be joined in May by a walking beat officer who will patrol College Avenue full time. Similar assignments will be made in other Oakland business districts as well.

Bilger Quarry. The Oakland Paving Company mined a body of traprock (mapped as Franciscan quartz diorite, a near-basalt), crushed it, and shipped it out via a rail spur that crossed Broadway at 42nd Street and curved toward the former depot at 41st and Shafter streets (you can see the trace in Google Maps).
- From the blog "Oakland Geology, focused on, near and under Oakland, California," written by Andrew Aiden, geology@andrew-alden.com. Used by permission of the blogger.

To be considered as a candidate, email info@rockridge.org not later than close of business March 2, to tell the board of your interest and to receive an informational package. The election will be held April 21 at the RCPC Town Hall.

Some observers refer to aspects of Presidential campaigns as the "silly season." While these quadrennial exercises can be silly at times, the process is serious and has important results. Nationally or locally, voting for office holders is an important civic duty.

Peralta Auction: Saturday, March 5, starting at 5 p.m. Theme: "The Peralta Cruise." Suggested: cruise wear; formal wear; or pirate wear. Tickets: $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Dance, mingle and support the Peralta Parents Teachers' Group's annual budget. The PPTG funds what the district doesn't: Peralta's art, music, language, sports, gardening education, librarian and teacher support staff. More info and advance tickets: Peralta.Auction@gmail.com.

The proposed Oakland city ordinance for Secondary Units received its second public reading at the January 19 City Council meeting. An amendment proposed by Councilman Dan Kalb was included.

Owing to an administrative error, the complete proposed ordinance was not submitted to the Council, and it was unable to take action. The final adoption was rescheduled to February 2.

North Oakland flapjack fans are invited to chow down at the 2016 Claremont Middle School Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, February 27, at the Rockridge Masonic Lodge, 5449 College Avenue at Kales Avenue.

This annual community event is generously hosted by the Oakland-Durant-Rockridge Masonic Lodge #188 in association with the Rockridge District Association (RDA) and the Claremont Middle School Dads Club. Proceeds from the breakfast support educational enrichment programs at our neighborhood public middle school.

Did you know that lower Rockridge is patrolled by professionally trained private security guards in marked vehicles more than 100 hours every week? These patrols are coordinated by the nonprofit group Safer Rockridge and funded by more than 560 residents and five commercial sponsors, including Rockridge Market Hall, Cole Hardware, Daniel Stea/Stea Realty Group, Ron Kriss/Lawton Associates, and Simon & Saraya Motley/The Motley Team.

The Oakland Heritage Alliance (OHA) community has lost a guiding light with the passing of local historian and tour leader Raymond Raineri. Ray, as he was popularly known, devoted himself to collecting memories of his childhood North Oakland neighborhood, and his Italian American heritage. Following his retirement, Ray's enthusiasm for North Oakland and Temescal history found a wide range of outlets including curating numerous exhibits at the History Room at the Oakland Main Library, and contributing articles to local newspapers such as the Piedmonter and the Montclarion.